Former Sen. Thomas Cullerton | Photo Courtesy of Thomas Cullerton's website
Former Sen. Thomas Cullerton | Photo Courtesy of Thomas Cullerton's website
The Illinois Republican Party said in a tweet that another Illinois Democrat has been sentenced to jail time. Former state Sen. Thomas Cullerton will spend one year in jail for embezzlement.
"Another day, another member of the Illinois Democrat Crime Ring goes to jail. We can end this culture of corruption in November. Join us!" tweeted the Illinois Republican Party.
Cullerton has been sentenced to one year in jail for embezzlement, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman said Cullerton "broke the trust of the people" for taking payments as an organizer for Teamsters Joint Council 25, while doing little or no work for the union. Between March 2013 and February 2016, Cullerton accepted $188,320 in salary, bonuses and cellphone and vehicle allowances and $64,068 in health and pension contributions from the union.
Before his sentencing, Cullerton complained about "hate speech comments" directed toward him online, ABC Chicago reported. Judge Gettleman said in court, "We've had far too many public officials appear in this court as felons."
Cullerton represented Illinois' 23rd district from 2013 until this year, according to the Illinois General Assembly website. In 2016 he was awarded Legislator of the Year by Transform Illinois and by the Illinois Association of Park Districts.
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